‘Aging in Grace’

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Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in east Marion County has served the spiritual and material needs of the community for more than four decades. It will soon launch a free program, which is open to the public, aimed at uplifting and improving the daily lives of seniors.  

The Aging with Grace program will be offered in weekly, four-hour sessions beginning June 16, and will include art therapy and more.

Father Jarek Sztybel said the program will provide “hope encouragement and support, healing and advocacy services for our parishioners and the surrounding community.”

Susan Lorain, a clinic psychologist for 42 years, has counseled patients from people on the autism spectrum to individuals diagnosed with PTSD, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. She will conduct the program

Sessions will start at 10 a.m. and be broken into four segments: prayer, socialization, physical health and educational communication. The program is free to attend and includes lunch. Donations are welcome to defray costs.   

Lorain said the session topics will range from personal relationships and “de-escalation” for couples to movement and stretching and floor exercise. The speakers planned so far include a financial advisor and a primer on patient rights. She added that her mentoring has helped with symptom relief and aided people in wheelchairs and walkers to lose weight.  

“The Aging with Grace program is for all seniors and it’s about coming together as a community for support and help. A person can shift and lift themselves out of whatever hole they might be in,” Lorain said. 

Volunteers are needed to conduct the sessions and also to provide topic suggestions. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church is located at 10679 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala. Office manager Lyndy Garrett said the first building opened in 1985 and the current larger sanctuary was in use by the late 1990s. The church started with about 100 families and now has about 300. Mass is offered Tuesday through Sunday. The social hall, which can seat 300 people, has recently undergone a major upgrade and can be rented by the public.

A group of volunteer parishioners under parish leadership handle a weekly pantry that provides food for those in need every first and third Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. The church also has scheduled drive through food distributions supported by the Diocese of Orlando. About 240 volunteers have distributed 100,691 pounds of food to 4,481 people representing 1,060 households in 2026 to date, according to Garrett. 

The church operates a thrift shop that recently moved to an expanded store at 13501 E. County Road 25, Ocklawaha. To learn more, go to ihmcatholicchurch.comTo RSVP for the Aging in Grace program or learn more, contact Lorain at [email protected] or text (339) 293-34